March 1736

March 3.At Mr.Chancellor'sHouse, inDowningStreet.

24. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Lord Sundon.Mr. John Lawton attended with a memorial signed by Sir Charles Turner, one of the four Tellers of the Exchequer, certifying his appointment of Lawton to be his first clerk in the said office, and desiring their Lordships' approbation and the administration of the oath pursuant to the Act 8 and 9 Wm. III., for the observation of the course of the Exchequer. “Whereupon the oath was administered to the said John Lawton accordingly.”Order for the issue to the Treasurer of the Navy out of supplies anno 1735 of 131,462l. 13s. 9d. for services as in his memorial of the 26th ult.Same for same to the Treasurer and Paymaster of the Ordnance of 12,453l. 5s. 3d. for land services out of the like supplies.[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 371.]

March 16.

25. Petition to the Treasury from the magistrates, merchants, and others of the town of Perth. Represent that the fords and banks of the Tay have of late become much shallower than formerly, and petitioners have been obliged to unload ships at Newburgh, seven miles down the river, where there is a commodious quay. But as said quay and another at Errol have been built since the port of Perth was laid out by commission from the Exchequer in 1710 neither of them is declared a lawful quay, and the Customs Commissioners have ordered no goods to be loaded or landed at either of those creeks but only at the shore of Perth, “though by the Act of Parliament and the former settlement of this port they are empowered to do so in cases of absolute necessity.” Therefore pray orders for allowing the discharge of goods at Newburgh and Errol in cases of necessity as formerly, “in which case they pray that care be taken that no privilege be granted to Newburgh and Errol that might remove the custom house from this town, but that the same be confined to ships belonging to this town and freighted by our merchants.” Referred to the Commissioners of Customs in Scotland. [North Britain Book XI. p. 387.]

March 16.Whitehall,TreasuryChambers.

26. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir George Oxenden, Lord Sundon.Stephen Whatley is to be paid 50l., as royal bounty, by the hands of Mr. Lowther.Order for a sign manual for 850l. in the name of Wm. Ellis as usual.The Customs Commissioners to allow David Guerin to attend at the water side, London port, to be instructed in custom house business. [Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 372.]

March 18.

27. Royal sign manual to the Clerk of the Signet attending, for the preparation of a bill to pass the Privy Seal to allow Arthur Onslow, appointed Treasurer of the Navy Royal by letters patents of 1734, April 20, to pass his accounts for that service, although the accompts of any former Treasurer of the Navy do or may remain undeclared and undetermined.[King's Warrant Book XXXII. p. 138–40.]

March 18.

28. Report to the Treasury from J. Willes, Attorney General, on the memorial of Henry Cartwright, Receiver General of Stamp duties, concerning the liability for the losses caused by defalcations of Jabez Hughs, chief clerk or deputy Receiver General of money for duties on stamps, &c., said Hughs having been appointed under Wm. Thompson late Receiver General of same. 30 pages.Appending:—(a.) Said memorial of Henry Cartwright to the Treasury, with order of reference thereupon, dated 1733, November 7, from the Treasury to the Stamp Commissioners. 8 pages.(b.) Report dated 1733–4, March 12, to the Treasury from said Commissioners on said memorial (a). 6 pages.(c.) An account certified by Alexander Barham Pro-comptroller of bills of exchange due in said Stamp office before 1729, August 3, and after 1729, August 2. In duplicate. 4 pages.(d.) A schedule certified by Henry Cartwright of bills delivered to Mr. Hughs after the 2 August 1729, which became due on or before the 15th of October following, but were not then brought to account. 1 page.(e.) Affidavit dated 1735, October 20, by Philip Pinckney, clerk of securities to the Stamp Commissioners, concerning the schedule of bills as in (e.) (i.). 1 page.Appending:—(e.) (i.) A schedule of several bills as in (c), showing the times when same were paid. 2 pages.(f.–k.) A series of affidavits concerning payments made to Jabez Hughes or embezzlements by him, viz.: By Samuel Andrews, one of the under clerks and bill man in the office of Receiver General of Stamp duties; John Carr, gentleman, chief clerk in the same office; Job Powell, gentleman, one of the clerks in same office; Henry Cartwright, Receiver General of said duties; John Gratwick Clowse, of the office of Pleas of the Exchequer Court, and Sarah Hughes, widow of Jabez Hughes, deceased, late Deputy Receiver General or chief clerk to or under Philip Papillion and Wm. Thomson, late Receivers General of Stamp duties and under Henry Cartwright, present same. 8 pages.[Treasury Board Papers CCXCI. No. 24.]

March 24.

29. Treasury warrant to the Auditor of the Exchequer to pay John Lawton 105l. for himself and three clerks for 1736, Lady Day quarter, for sorting, digesting and methodising the Records and writings in the Court of the Exchequer.Appending:—Lawton's certificate of work done during the quarter: “Mr. Stewart has been sorting and digesting records of various reigns. Mr. Smart continues to sort Star Chamber Records. Mr. Whiston makes indexes to Forest Rolls. Mr. Farley is methodising the books of the Court of Wards and Liveries, and Mr. Strachey proceeds in sorting Star Chamber Records.”[Money Book XXXVIII. p. 234.]

March 25.Whitehall,TreasuryChambers.

30. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Dodington, Lord Cholmondeley.Order for a sign manual for 6,600l. in the name of John Scrope for His Majesty's Secret Service.Mr. Edmund Jones is to be paid 30l. for Trevor Morgan out of the King's money in Mr. Lowther's hands.“John Munn is to be paid 200l. out of the Customs to recompense his service, diligence, care, pains and expenses in travelling through many parts of France, Flanders and Holland to discover the waies and means taken by the smuglars to run goods into Great Britain and Ireland.” Order for a warrant to the Customs Commissioners to pay same through their Receiver General.The several reports of the Surveyor General of Crown Lands read on the petitions of Henry Titchbourn and Sir John Norris of 1735, November 25, for leases of the same houses in Jermyn Street and Piccadilly. Their Lordships agree to the report made in favour of Mr. Titchbourn, and order a warrant accordingly.[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 373; Customs Book XIV. p. 163.]

March 26.

31. Petition to the Treasury from Wm. Dawson of Manchester, executor and residuary legatee of Lady Barbara Fitz Roy, eldest daughter of the late Duke of Cleveland, concerning a deed of settlement executed by the said Duke 1724, July 22, whereby said Duke granted to Thos. Pulteney and Charles Main 1,333l. 6s. 8d. per annum for 21 years out of his pension of 4,000l. per annum at the Excise office, same to be in trust for raising portions for his younger sons or daughters. In 1725 said Duke advanced a portion of 20,000li. to Lady Grace, one of his daughters, and died in 1730, leaving no younger son and only the said Lady Barbara and Lady Anne, another daughter, who are thereby entitled to said annuity for the remainder of the term. From the death of said Duke to 1733, Lady day, said annuity has been paid to the Duchess of Cleveland, and since then it has been paid to some person or persons under colour of an order from the Treasury. Prays that the moiety of 1,333l. 6s. 8d. may be reserved in the hands of the Cashier of Excise subject to the order of the Court of Chancery. Referred to the Commissioners of Excise. [Reference Book X. p. 70.]

March 26.

32. Abbreviat by Allan Whitefoord, Receiver General of Scotland, of the moneys received and issued 1735–6, February 26, to March 26 following. 1 sheet.[Treasury Board Papers CCXCI. No. 26.]

March 31.Whitehall,TreasuryChambers.

33. Present: Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Sundon, Lord Cholmondeley.Orders for the following issues out of the Civil List Revenues:—

£

s.

d.

To Mr. Schutz for the Privy Purse

3,000

0

0

To the Works, 1735, Christmas quarter

9,854

17

8

To the Wardrobe, same quarter

4,305

19

7¾

To the Treasurer of the Chamber on bills and warrants, same quarter

5,592

18

2

To foreign ministers, same quarter

12,516

5

0

This last to be retained till next week's cash is made up.

The Stamp Commissioners' report of February 8 last in favour of John Willis, stationer, read. Said Commissioners to state what they recommend as an allowance to him for services.Baron Hautoy, envoy from the Duke of Lorraine, is to have 500l., as the King's present on his return, as by the Lord Chamberlain's letter of this day.Order for reference to the Customs Commissioners of the paper now read to their Lordships, containing thoughts on the petty customs, scavage, package and baillage duties, and proposing a method to reform the collusive methods used to evade and lessen those duties. “Let them know that the ill practices with respect to those duties as far as my Lords are apprized thereof by this representation do require some immediate reformation.”[Treasury Minute Book XXVII. p. 374; Customs Book XIV. p. 165; Letter Book XIX. p. 402.]